Inspiration turns up in unexpected places. I wasn’t surprised when a recent Pottery Barn catalog caught my eye with photos of old-fashioned canning jars styled as keepsakes. On closer look they were antique bell jars filled with shells, sand, and even ocean water, labeled with destinations like “Mykonos” and “Fiji.” It was charming—and it made … Read more

“I’m Blue Da Ba Dee Dabba Da-eeeeee” (anyone else remember that song?). Imagine us belting it out while priming and painting trim for days on end. We’re getting a little loopy, but we’re having fun. Feel free to hum along if you need encouragement. Last you heard, our foyer was sporting some intense blue trim. … Read more

We’ve shared this gorgeous back porch on Instagram twice (during the holidays, shown below, and last summer), and it belongs to our good friends Carey & Jordan. After seeing how many of you loved that view, we decided to do a proper House Crash to show more of their beautiful home. They also shared practical … Read more

You may know we’ve been working to make our home greener—removing harmful chemicals and starting a compost bin—but one important step we nearly overlooked was testing our house for radon to protect indoor air quality. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that seeps up from the ground and can accumulate in homes built over areas … Read more

If you think you can’t keep a houseplant alive, the snake plant will change your mind. Common in doctor’s offices, hotel lobbies, and stores, it’s prized for being virtually foolproof and low maintenance. Whether you’re new to plants or have a seasoned collection, this upright, spear-shaped beauty is a reliable choice. Below we explain what … Read more

Yes, that’s an SNL reference. Before I go any further, I have to say thank you and I love you to everyone—your kind messages this morning really lifted my spirits on a soggy, sad day. You guys are amazing. Now for a post many of you asked for: photos of what I placed on our … Read more

Digging has become almost as tiresome to me as reality TV. I expected a fair amount of it when we decided to DIY our patio, but I got overconfident after pulling up that liriope so effortlessly last week. Next on the list was removing the brick path. Because a few edge bricks were loose, I … Read more

Our previously beige-on-beige master bathroom now sports Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray, and we’re thrilled with the result. We first fell for this color when we saw it in another kitchen, and it brings a fresh, elegant contrast to this small space. Below are photos from the process and the finished look (some pictures were taken … Read more

*** This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below! *** Random.org has done it again and selected our winner as… Chelsea (who loves the smell of coffee in the morning). Congrats! Our giveaway this week celebrates hard work and great tools. Channellock, a company with 125 years of forging tools in … Read more

This post chronicles a quick and inexpensive stool makeover I recently completed for a magazine feature. The stool arrived unexpectedly in the mail, and while it wasn’t ours to begin with, I decided to give it a fresh look. Below is a step-by-step account of how the small transformation came together. The original piece was … Read more